Convertible cabinet, bed, and sofa



Oct. 21, 1958 w. H. WHEELER CONVERTIBLE CABINET, BED, AND SOFA R 1 E L t.I RE m 4 ME 5 00 N H EW S 7 V m 4 N H e 5 I M & 5 m 2 u 7 W QJ 2 O0 5 Qa 3 5 O 2 H a W W 7. 1 B 5, O L m 1% w m H I F T ATTORNEY W. H. WHEELERCONVERTIBLE CABINET, BED, AND SOFA Oct. 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Shem 2 FiledOct. 5, 1955 R m w W.

WILLIAM H.WHEEL\ER ATTORNEY United States Patent O CONVERTIBLE CABINET,BED, AND SOFA William H. Wheeler, New York, N. Y., assignor to Edna K.Wheeler, New York, N. Y.

Application October 5, 1955, Serial No. 538,651

7 Claims. (Cl. -2)

This invention relates to a combination article of furniture andparticularly to a convertible cabinet, bed, and sofa. More particularly,the invention relates to a combination article of furniture of the classdescribed having novel counter-balancing means facilitating the openingof a cabinet unit to provide a bed or sofa and further facilitating thereturn of the bed or sofa unit to said cabinet. In further particularthe invention embodies automatically operated leg members on the bed andsofa unit having actuating means operatively coupled with saidcounter-balancing means.

The provision of extra seating and sleeping facilities, particularly insmaller houses and apartments, as well as in dens, recreation rooms, andother rooms doubling as guest rooms, presents a considerable problem.Collapsible cots and the like for extra sleeping facilities are awkwardand seldom really comfortable. As for studio couches and chairs or sofasconvertible to beds, it will be evident that the floor space occupied bysuch units when not converted to provide a bed is quite substantial.Frequently the need for periodic seating or sleeping facilities is notsufficient to warrant the full time presence of bulky articles offurniture of this type which prevent the more beneficial utilization oflimited space.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combination articleof furniture which in its normal or closed position is a neat andattractive wall cabinet of practical counter height to receive lamps,pictures, flower arrangements and the like while taking up a minimum offloor space adjacent the wall and which can be quickly and easilyconverted to a full size single bed extending along the wall to provideextra sleeping facilities or as readily converted to a sofa providingcomfortable seating facilities for three or four persons. A furtherobject being to provide a combination article of furniture of the classdescribed having storage facilities for all materials required inutilizing the same either as a sofa or a bed. These and other objects ofthe invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of thefollowing specification taken together with the accompanying drawingwhich gives a detail illustration of a preferred adaptation of myinvention in which the various parts of the combination unit areidentified by suitable reference characters in each of the views and inwhich:

Fig. l is a front elevation View of my combination article of furniturewith the view divided to show at the left the closed position thereofand at the right the opened positions thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the combination unit shown in Fig. 1with part of the structure indicating a section taken substantially onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing in full lines the relative positionof parts when the unit is used as a sofa and in the dotted lines therelative position of parts when the unit is used as a bed;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one front corner of the combination unit in theopen position with mattress and spring removed to reveal thecounterbalancing and leg actuating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a partial view substantially on. the line 44 of Fig. 3 withpart of the structure broken away to show the detail of the leg assemblyin open position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the relative position of theparts when the bed unit is in closed or inoperative position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but taken substantially along theline 66 of Fig. 5 and showing the leg mechanism in closed position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper end of a leg as seenin Figs. 4 and 6 with part of the structure broken away to indicatedetails of the control cable anchorage; and

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8of Fig. 1 showing details of a disappearing lamp unit, the same beingshown in full lines in the retracted or inoperative position and indotted lines in the extended or operative position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the combi nation article offurniture in accordance with my invention comprises an elongated cabinet10 having a top wall or counter 11, end walls 12, a rear wall 13 and alow front wall part 14 which as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing is abuilt-up construction protruding forwardly of the side walls 12,. Theforward protrusion of the front wall part 14 provides stability in thecabinet as will be more fully hereinafter described, as well as havingan ornamental effect in the cabinet unit; and in keeping with theforward protrusion of the part 14, the base 12a of the side walls alsoprotrudes slightly outwardly as seen in Fig. 1. Pivotally coupled to theupper edge of the lower front wall part 14 by means of hinges 16 is amovable front wall part 17 providing a front closure for the cabinet asseen at the left-hand side of Fig. 1 and which carries the movable bedand sofa unit 18 as shown at the right-hand sideof Fig. 1.

The movable front wall portion 17 presents at the outer surface thereofperipheral frame parts 19 and intermediate cross-frame parts 24 forminga plurality of panels 21 which can be suitably ornamented and ifdesired, can be made removable and interchangeable to provide differentdecorative effects. Centrally of the upper frame part 19 is a handle 22to facilitate grasping the front wall part 17 in lowering and raisingthe bed unit 18. Also in the upper frame part 119 are cutouts 23receiving, flush with the surface of the frame part 1), legs 24 whichare automatically extended in the manner hereinafter described to theposition shown in Fig. 2 and at the right of Fig. l for supporting andaligning the bed unit 18 in its lower or open position.

The bed unit 18 receives a mattress 25' recessed between the front wall18a, end walls 18b, and rear wall of the bed unit. The mattress 25 issupported on a spring unit 26 which rests on front corner braces .27 anda longitudinal rear brace 23. it will be noted that the side watts 18bprotrude inwardly of the cabinet beyond the pivoted edge of the frontpanel 17 and a longitudinal stiffening member 29 is provided along thehinged or mounting edge of the front panel 17 as will be noted in Fig. 2of the drawing.

Arranged within the cabinet it and pivoted to the side walls 12 at apoint 3ft slightly below the hinge it? is a bin 31 which extendssubstantially the length of the mattress 25 and is adapted to receivesofa cushions Above the bin 31 and secured to the top wall it of thecabinet by rollers 33 moving in tracks 34 is a multiple cabinet unit 35which can be moved from a rear position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2and at the extreme right in Fig. l to a forward position as shown infull lines in Fig. 2 and centrally in Fig. l of the drawing. Themultiple cabinet unit 35 provides compartments 36 controlled by doors 37to receive pillows and bedding or the-like and a central compartment 38as seen in Fig. 1 which may be an open shelf to receive radio, clock andother items of the kind. The inner cabinet unit 35 is in the innerposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing when the cabinetis closed and when the bed unit 18 is extended for sleeping purposes,and is moved to the forward position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 whenthe bed unit is converted to a sofa for seating purposes.

In making the latter conversion a back-rest 39 carried by end members 48arranged outwardly of the bin 31 and pivoted to the side walls 12 at apoint 41 forwardly of the inner cabinet unit 35, is swung from its rearposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to its forward or operativeposition as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. An offset portion 3% on theback-rest serves the dual purpose of providing support for the innercabinet unit 35 holding the same in its rear position and providing abearing surface against the mattress 25 when the back-rest 39 isextended to its operative position. The end members 49 are of a lengthto carry the back-rest 39 forwardly on the mattress 25, and theback-rest 39 is so inclined that the cushions 32 and the exposed portionof the mattress 25 provide the dimensions and contour desired in anormal sofa. Thus when the combination unit is set up as a sofa, itprovides comfortable seating for three or even four people.

The inner cabinet unit 35 is normally held inwardly by light springs 33aextending from the forward rollers 33 to a rear wall 13, and is rolledforwardly and supported in its forward position by means of chains 46ajoining ends of the back-rest 39 with inner lower edges of the cabinetunit 35. Thus when in use as a sofa the compartments 36 and 33 aredisposed directly behind the upper edge of the cushions 32 and readilyaccessible for use.

The movable cabinet unit 35 is also provided at the ends thereof withsmall separate compartments 42 (note Fig. 8 of the drawing) which housedisappearing lamps 43 mounted on panel members 44 which are pivoted atthe upper edges thereof preferably by means of concealed throw-hinges45. The mountings for the lamps 43 suitably include shade elements 46serving to prevent objectionable upward rays from the lamps. It will beevident that When swung upwardly to the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 8 of the drawing, the lamps 43 will provide effective light foreither reading or general illumination when the combination unit is usedeither as a sofa or as a bed. In other words, the lamps 43 can beextended and operated when the movable cabinet unit 35 is in the forwardposition or in the rear position. In either instance, the lamps are sopositioned that they can be effectively used and easily operated whenthe unit is set up either in the form of a bed for sleeping facilities,or as a sofa.

It will be noted that the front wall 18a and side walls 18b of the bedunit are tapered inwardly to provide a relatively narrow peripheral edgeadjacent the mattress 25. The forward inner edges of the side wall 12 aswell as the moulding strip 47 along the forward edge of the top wall aresimilarly tapered to provide a close peripheral engagement when the bedunit 18 is raised to the vertical or inoperative position. When thusraised, the mattress 25 is supported against sagging by engagement withthe inner cabinet unit 35 and with the bin 31 which has been pivoted toa position of alignment with the dotted line position of the cabinet 35.

While there is substantial weight to the bed unit 18 and the spring andmattress which move therewith, I am able by counter-balancing means tooffset this weight to such extent that even a small child can raise andlower the bed unit. This counter-balancing means arranged at both endsof the bed unit 18, together with the leg actuating means associatedtherewith is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawing asembodying a heavy coilspring 48 secured by a bracket 49 to the innersurface of the end wall 18b in alignment with the corner bracket 27(note Fig. 1 of the drawing) and secured at its other end 48a to a cable50 which extends through cut-out recess 29a in the stiffening member 29,around a pulley bracket 51 at the lower edge of rear wall 180 and thendownwardly and forwardly to a point 52 adjacent the forward edge offront wall part 14. The cable 50 may be anchored by means of a suitablebracket at the point 52, but is preferably continued through a groove orrecess 53 transversely of the unit to be coupled with the spring 48 atthe opposite end of the bed unit 18. In this way the tension in thesprings 48 at opposite ends of the bed unit is automatically equalized.

The end 48a of the spring 48 which carries the cable 50 is also securedto leg operating cables 54 and 55. Cable 54 passes around a pulleybracket 56 secured to the front wall 18a of the bed unit and then to theupper end of leg 24 which is pivotally mounted between front wall 18aand an angle-iron bracket 57 secured thereto. As shown in Fig. 7 of thedrawing, the cable 54 is disposed in a groove 58 in the upper end of theleg 24 and has its end anchored in a recess 59 extending into the leg 24at an acute angle with respect to the cable 54. The cable 55 extendsaround pulley bracket 69 secured to the longitudinal brace 29 and thenwith intermediate small coil-spring 61 passes around pulley bracket 62on the corner brace 27 and has its end anchored in recess 63 extendinginto the leg 24 at an acute angle opposed to that of the recess 59. Itwill be noted that the recesses 59 and 63 in each instance carry therespective cables 54 land 55 beyond the pivotal axis 64 of the leg,thereby providing leverage for the controlled movement of the leg ashereinafter described.

The operation of the counter-balancing means and leg actuating means isreadily apparent from a comparison of Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing withFigs. 5 and 6. When the bed unit 18 is lowered, its weight is largelyoffset by extension of the spring 48 and as the end 48a moves, it causesa simultaneous shortening of the cable 55 and tensioning of the cable54, the latter pulling the leg 24 to the extended position. When the bedunit 18 is elevated to the closed or inoperative position as shown inFigs. 5 and 6, the spring 48 contracts and as the end 48a thereof moves,it releases the tension in cable 54 and increases the tension in cable55 substantially extending spring 61. This increased tension in cable 55and the action of spring 61 pulls the leg 24 into the retracted orinoperative position as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing. It will thus beapparent that the leg operation is fully automatic and coincidental tothe opening and closing movements of the bed unit and further, that bothin the open and closed positions the leg 24 is firmly supported againstinadvertent displacement.

While the particular size and strength of springs 48 and 61 aredependent upon the particular construction materials employed and theresulting weight of the complete bed unit 18, I have employed as thespring 48 a /8" spring having approximately pound tension when stretchedfrom 10 inches to 17 inches in length and as the spring 61 a /2" springhaving approximately 10 pounds tension when stretched from 6 to 10inches.

A full scale model of my convertible cabinet, bed, and sofa has fullydemonstrated its practicability in the various intended uses thereof.The closed cabinet provides a well proportioned piece of furniture thatcan readily be made to blend with various types of furniture, includingthe most modern types. The opening of the cabinet to provide a bed canbe effected easily in the matter of seconds. If seating facilities aredesired rather than sleeping facilities, the cushions 32 are removedfrom bin 31, the back-rest 39 is pulled forward carrying with it themovable inner cabinet 35 and the cushions 32 are placed against theback-rest 39. These operations can be performed in less time than ittakes to read these sentences describing the steps. When thus set up .asa

sofa, the unit has a neat appearance which can blend well with manytypes of furnishings, and'is properly proportioned for comfortableseating, i. e. the depth from the front edge of mattress 25 to the frontof cushions 32 is approximately 21 inches. It is important also to notethat the conversion of the unit to either bedlor sofa can be effectedwithout disturbing in any way articles which may be arranged on theupper surface of the top wall or counter 11, or in the open innercompartment 38.

When using the unit essentially as a convertible bed it is to be notedthat the construction is such that the bed can be stored away withoutparticular concern for the arrangement of bedding thereon. The taper orbevel in the wall 18a and 18b provide ample clearance between themattress 25 and the periphery of the front opening in cabinet 11 so thatblankets and the like protruding beyond the mattress will not interferewith raising or closing of the bed unit. Furthermore the bevel in Walls18a and 18b and corresponding bevel at the outer edges of side walls 12and in top strip 47 prevent the possibility of jamming if a blanket orthe like should become caught therebetween.

The unit is exceedingly sturdy and stable in the pivotal movement of thebed unit. A contributory factor in this stability is the forwardprotrusion of the lower front wall part 14. Not only does the front wallor base part 14 engage the floor substantially forwardly of the hinges16, but it will be noted that the cable anchorage point 52 (or cablegroove 53) is also forwardly of said hinges. The lower front wall part14 through hinges 16 acts as a rear leg for the bed unit. The relativeposition of the hinges rearwardly of the floor engaging front portion ofthe wall or base 14 provides that the added load of persons sitting orreclining on the bed unit is carried internally of the cabinet peripheryas it engages the floor, thus making the cabinet more resistant topossible tipping as greater load is applied to the bed or sofa.

Various changes and modifications in the combination article offurniture herein disclosed may occur to those skilled in the art and tothe extent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the,appended claims, it is to be understood that they constitute part of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A combination wall cabinet, bed and sofa device comprising anelongated and relatively low wall cabinet having end and top wallsextending the full depth of said cabinet and having a pivotally mountedfront wall part carrying a mattress unit telescopically interfittingwithin said end and top walls, said mattress unit when in the verticalposition occupying approximately the forward half of said cabinet asviewed in vertical cross section and when in horizontal positiondisposing the mattress thereof at a sofa seating level and protrudingsubstantially in front of and partially within said cabinet, the rearhalf of said cabinet having upper and lower storage compartments bearingagainst said mattress and supporting the same when in vertical position,said lower compartment comprising an elongated tiltable bin receivingsofa cushions, said upper compartment providing concealed storage forpillow and bedding, and being movable from its normal rearward positionto a position in substantial alignment with the forward edges of saidend walls, an elongated sofa cushion aligning member pivotally securedto said end walls and extending transversely of said cabinet to bemovable from a stored position between said upper and lower compartmentsto a cushion supporting position intermediate the inner and outer edgesof the mattress when extended, means coupling said member with saidupper compartment to move the same into and support the same in theforward position in the forward movement of said cushion aligningmember, and said cushion aligning member and upper compartment when inthe forward position engaging of a sofa per se.

2. A combination wall cabinet, bed and sofa device as defined in claim1, wherein the front wall of said cabinet has in upper forward portionsthereof extending along and closely spaced from the upper edge thereof,

pivoted members disposed in substantial alignment with said front wallwhen the same is in vertical position and protruding substantiallyperpendicularly therefrom to provide supporting legs for said bed unitwhen in the extended position,

3. In a convertible article of furniture of the class describedembodying a relatively low cabinet part having a front wall closurecarrying a bed unit pivotally mounted in said cabinet part for movementbetween a vertical stored position and a horizontal sleeping and sittingposition, said bed unit supporting a mattress spaced from the innersurface of said front wall closure, the improvements that comprisecounter-balancing means for said bed unit substantially disposed betweenthe mattress and said front wall closure, said counterbalancing meansembodying resilient means secured at the forward swinging portion ofsaid bed unit and having free ends providing at opposed ends of said bedunit yieldable displacement toward the rear edge of said bed unit,cables secured to the free ends of said resilient means and passingaround pulley brackets at the rear edge of said bed unit and toanchorage points at the bottom forward portion of said cabinet.

4. In a convertible article of furniture of the class describedembodying a relatively low cabinet part having a front wall closurecarrying a bed unit pivotally mounted in said cabinet part for movementbetween a vertical stored position and a horizontal sleeping and sittingposition, said bed unit supporting a mattress spaced from the innersurface of said front Wall closure, the improvements that comprisecounter-balancing means for said bed unit substantially disposed betweenthe mattress and said front wall closure, said counterbalancing meansembodying resilient means secured at the forward swinging portion ofsaid bed unit and having free ends providing at opposed ends of said bedunit yieldable displacement toward the rear edge of said bed unit,cables secured to the free ends of said resilient means and passingaround pulley brackets at the rear edge of said bed unit and toanchorage points at the bottom forward portion of said cabinet, and saidcables being joined transversely of the cabinet part between said lastnamed points to thereby equalize tensions in said resilient means atopposed ends of said bed unit.

5. In a convertible article of furniture of the class describedembodying a relatively low cabinet part a front wall closure carrying abed unit pivotally mounted in said cabinet part for movement between avertical stored position and a horizontal sleeping and sitting position,said bed unit supporting a mattress spaced from the inner surface ofsaid front Wall closure, the improvements that comprisecounter-balancing means for said bed unit substantially disposed betweenthe mattress and said front wall closure, said counterbalancing meansembodying resilient means secured at the forward swinging portion ofsaid bed unit and having free ends providing at opposed ends of said bedunit yieldable displacement toward the rear edge of said bed unit,cables secured to the free ends of said resilient means and passingaround pulley brackets at the rear edge of said bed unit and toanchorage points at the bottom forward portion of said cabinet, saidresilient means being extended when the bed unit is in horizontalposition and contracted when the bed unit is in vertical position, andcables secured to the free ends of said resilient means and passingaround spaced pulleys within said bed unit for automatically controllingthe extending and retracting movements of pivoted leg members as the bedunit is respectively lowered and raised, the cables providing forretracting movement of said legs including yieldable means providingsubstantial elongation thereof.

6. In a convertible article of furniture of the class describedembodying a relatively low cabinet part having a front wall closurecarrying a bed unit pivotally mounted in said cabinet part for movementbetween a vertical stored position and a horizontal sleeping and sittingposition, said bed unit supporting a mattress spaced from the innersurface of said front wall closure, the improvements that comprisecounter-balancing means for said bed unit substantially disposed betweenthe mattress and said front wall closure, said counterbalancing meansembodying resilient means secured at the forward swinging portion ofsaid bed unit and having free ends providing at opposed ends of said bedunit yieldable displacement toward the rear edge of said bed unit,cables secured to the free ends of said resilient means and passingaround pulley brackets at the rear edge of said bed unit and toanchorage points at the bottom forward portion of said cabinet, saidresilient means being extended when the bed unit is in horizontalposition and contracted when the bed unit is in vertical position,cables secured to the free ends of said resilient means and passingaround spaced pulleys within said bed unit for substantially controllingthe extending and retracting movements of pivoted eg members as the bedunit is respectively lowered and raised, the cables providing forretracting movement of 8 said legs including yieldable means providingsubstantial elongation thereof, and said leg actuating cables beingsecured to said legs at points substantially spaced from the pivotedmounting thereof providing substantial leverage in the extending andretracting movements of said legs.

7. In a convertible cabinet, bed, and sofa device wherein the cabinetpart has an upper storage compartment movable from a rearward positionin the'bed orientation of said device to a forward, sofa-cushionengaging position in the sofa orientation of said device, theimprovement that comprises concealed lamp units at end portions of saidmovable compartment providing an effective source of light for readingin the bed orientation of said device, and said lamps providing anequally effective source of light for reading in the sofa orientation ofsaid device by reason of the forward movement of said upper storagecompartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS552,441 Matthews Dec. 31, 1895 l,253,872 Page Ian. 15, 1918 1,340,735Page May 18, 1920 2,747,202 Driver May 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 428,569Italy Dec. 22, 1947

